The building changed hands last year. Credit: via Four Walls

ESG demands trigger £1m office upgrade

18 March 2024 09:54 Neil Tague Comments (0)

The owner of Newcastle’s Wellbar Central has started a programme of works at the 10-storey building, initially focusing on two vacant suites.

Wellbar Properties, a vehicle associated with the Motcomb Estates group that has become a significant player in Newcastle, took ownership of the Gallowgate’s Wellbar Central in December.

Now the firm has kicked off a 16-week programme including the installation of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

The building, already home to organisations such as Irwin Mitchell, Global Radio, Turnitin, and Sky, as well as XPS Pension Group and Advance Business Software, comprises 118,000 sq ft of office accommodation.

The vacant ninth floor, which extends to 11,354 sq ft of open-plan space, is undergoing refurbishment and will offer occupiers unrivalled views across one of the city’s most vibrant developing neighbourhoods when the works complete in May.

Meanwhile, on the eighth floor, a fully renovated suite totalling 4,751 sq. ft. will also soon be available, and for those that require a ‘plug and play’ solution, there is a fourth-floor suite of 2,634 sq ft, with 24 workstations, an eight-person meeting room, kitchen, and additional collaboration, meeting and break out spaces.

The finished works, which are being managed by MAPP Building Consultancy, will add to the significant regeneration the Gallowgate area has seen in recent years, the developer said.

This includes the introduction of tech and science quarter Newcastle Helix, a joint development between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University, as well as Home Group’s One Strawberry Lane development.

Shipping container leisure group Stack is developing a Newcastle United fanzone, due to open this year.

Jonathan McConnell, director at MAPP, said: “As well as advancing the quality of the office accommodation available at Wellbar Central, these improvements are about making the entire space more energy efficient.

“Not only that but with natural light maximised through a floor-to-ceiling window height of 2.7 metres, we have no doubt that staff based in the building will find the working environment offers an enviable level of comfort.”

Wellbar Central is positioned just a short walk from both Monument and Haymarket metro stations. The building, completed in 2010, has a Greggs and Costa at ground floor.

Patrick Matheson, partner at Knight Frank, who is marketing Wellbar Central alongside joint letting agent Savills, added: “The market for Grade A office space in Newcastle is very strong, with occupiers actively seeking to upgrade their space, in particular to meet modern expectations in terms of environmental and sustainability credentials.

“As a direct result of this investment, Wellbar Central will be very well-placed to meet these expectations and in doing so, further strengthen the thriving city centre office market in Newcastle.”